Method of splicing

ABSTRACT

Connectors are attached to a paper tape in pairs. The tape is fed into a machine and wires are inserted into the connectors. Four wires are selected, arranged in two pairs and sheared so that the ends are even and then are inserted, two each into the two connectors. Thereafter, the connectors are crimped, electrically connecting the wires together.

United States Patent 105, ill, 1l3;29/5l7, 518, 243.57; 72/400, 401

1 l I l 1 l I 1 1 I 1 [72] inventor Jimmy C. Ray [56] References Cited B! Denim! 50 UNITED STATES PATENTS [21] P 836377 9 2,564,874 8/1951 Andren 140/111 [22] F11ed b 2 196 3,064,072 11/1962 Graffet al..... 29/517 HB 2 7, 3,245,246 4/1966 P118011 72/401 [451 Patented 1971 3,263,475 8/1966 Van De Kerkhof 72/401 3,328,871 7/1967 Over 72/400 2,631,213 3/1953 Martines 219/50 3,031,002 4/1962 Miller 29/243.57

Primary ExaminerLoweil A. Larson Attorney-Charles W. Coffee [54] METHOD OF SPLICING 8 Cums 4 Figs ABSTRACT: Connectors are attached to a paper tape in pairs. [52] US. Cl 1441/11], The tape is fed into a machine and wires are inserted into the 29/517, 140/1 13 connectors. Four wires are selected, arranged in two pairs and [51] Int. Cl. B211 /06 sheared so that the ends are even and then are inserted, two Field of Search /1, 93, each into the two connectors. Thereafter, the connectors are crimped, electrically connecting the wires together.

PATENTEUHAR 9|97| I 3568-730 SHEET 1 0F 2 |NVENTOR JIMMY C. RAY

METHOD OF SPLICING CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This is one of two divisional applications of my previous application filed Feb. 7, 1966, Ser. No. 525,506.

This invention relates to splicing communication cables, and, more particularly, to a method and means for splicing the various wires of a bundle of wires forming a telephone cable.

At present, telephone cables are a spliced by matching by color one one wire each from the two cables to be spliced, cutting with hand shears the two wires to even the ends, inserting the two ends of the wires together into an insulated connector, and then crimping the connector and the wires with a plierslike tool. According to this invention, the connectors are mounted in pairs upon a web. Then, two pairs of wires (the wires are in pairs in each cable) are selected and combined from the two adjacent cables to be spliced and the four wires are sheared to an even length. The two matched pairs of wires are inserted into a pair of connectors which are mounted upon the web and then the pair of connectors crimped and the web cut. Obviously, doing this by hand with the connectors mounted upon a web would be an improvement. However, more important, the mounting of the connectors on a web adapts the operation for mechanization. A simple machine is provided with a pneumatic cylinder so that, with one stroke of the cylinder, the wires are cut and, upon the other stroke of the cylinder, the connectors are crimped and the web severed. Upon the shearing stroke, another pair of connectors are positioned upon an anvil under a hammer.

An object of this invention is to splice cables of communication wires.

Another object is to splice cables of communication wires more quickly and with better quality and more uniform joints.

Another object is to achieve the above without strain on the operator while still achieving higher production per operator.

A further object is to provide a machine which is free of trouble in operation.

Still further objects are to achieve the above with a device that is sturdy, compact, durable, simple, portable, and reliable, yet inexpensive and easy to manufacture and operate.

Still further objects are to achieve the above with a method that is rapid and inexpensive and co does not require skilled people to adjust and operate.

The specific nature of the invention, as well as other objects, uses, and advantages thereof, will clearly appear from the following description and from the accompanying drawing, the different views of which are not necessarily to the same scale, in which:

H6. 1 is an elevational view of a machine according to this invention with parts broken away.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the web with connectors attached thereto.

H0. 3 is a sectional view of the wire shears, taken on line 3- 3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the hammer and anvil with a connector on the anvil, taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the machine is constructed upon base plate 10. A cover is provided for a finished a machine; however, for ease of illustration, it is not shown.

Double-stroke pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder or motor 12 is attached at its closed end by pin 14 to the base plate 10. Piston rod 16 of the cylinder is attached to the middle pivot pin 18 of toggle links 20 and 22. Toggle link 20 is pivoted on the other end to the base plate 10, while the other end of toggle link 22 is attached to hammer 24. Therefore, upon the extension of the rod 16, the toggle links will cause the hammer to move against anvil 26, which is attached to the base plate 10. The working face of the hammer 24 and the working face of the anvil 26 are parallel to each other and at right angle to the surface of the base plate as shown.

The pneumatic cylinder 12 is powered by air under pressure from a source not shown and is activated by a valve, also not shown, inasmuch as valves for this purpose are well known.

Wire shear blade 28 is pivoted by pin 30 to the base plate 10. The blade is either attached to or an integral part of lever 32. On the opposite end of the lever from the blade 28, the lever is pivoted to pitman 34. The other end of the pitman 34 is pivoted to link 22 adjacent to the piston rod 16. The pitman 34 extends adjacent the cylinderor motor 12. When the toggle links break" toward the cylinder, the working face of the hammer 24 is away from the anvil 26.

Analysis of the mechanism, with the assistance of the drawing, shows that, as the piston rod is retracted, the hammer is raised and the shear blade will be on the working stroke, shearing against shoulder 36 of notch 38. When the piston rod 16 is extended, the shear blade 28 is retracted to open the notch 38 while the hammer 24 is on the working stroke. Paper knife 40 is attached to the hammer 24 to cut web or paper strip 42 upon the working stroke of the hammer. A notch is provided in the anvil for the paper knife to work in. Also, guides in the form of bearing rails 44 are attached to the base plate to guide the hammer in rectilinear motion.

The connectors 46 are well known to the art and consist of metal cups 48 which have internal prongs on the interior and are encased or telescoped within insulating sleeve 50. In use, the two wires are inserted side-by-side into the connector and the connector crimped. The crimping does not rupture the insulating sleeve, but it does force the prongs into electrical conducting contact with the wires. As stated before, the connectors are well known to the art and are the same connectors as used by the present hand method. The crimping operation is the same except that, according to my invention, the connectors are crimped between hammer 24 and anvil 26 uniformly, rather than being crimped with a hand-actuated plierslike crimping tool.

The connectors are mounted in adjacent pairs upon the paper strip or web 42. As shown in this embodiment, the pairs are mounted with their axes normal to the axis of the web. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the axes of the connectors could be aligned with the axis of the web, still being mounted in adjacent pairs. However, it is preferred to mount the pairs transverse, as shown. A roll enclosure or holder 52 is provided upon the base plate 10. Roll 54 of the web 42 with the connectors 46 is kept in the roll enclosure. The end of the roll is fed through chute 56 to anvil 26. The web is fed by feeder finger 58, which is pivoted to feeder arm 60. The feeder arm 60 is attached to block 62 which slides within guide tracks 64. The block 62 is attached to the end of the piston rod 16 by connecting rod 66.

Reiterating the material found in the introduction, in operation, the operator chooses a pair of wires from the two cables to be spliced together, holds them parallel with the ends together, and inserts them into notch 38. Then, he operates the valve to retract the piston rod 16, thereby shearing the wires to equal length by wire shear blade 28. In this stroke, the feeder finger 58 will index a pair of connectors 46 onto the anvil 26 underneath the hammer 24. The operator then inserts a wire from each pair into each of the two connectors 46 which are then under the hammer 24. Upon reversal of the operating valve, the piston rod 16 is extended, causing the hammer to crimp the two connectors, the paper knife 40 to sever the web 42, and the feeder finger 58 to move over the next adjacent pair of connectors. The feeder finger 58 is pivoted to the feeder arm 60 so that it pivots upward to index over a pair of connectors, but pivots downward to positively move the pair forward. After the hammer has crimped the two connectors, the operator turns loose of the four wires in the two connectors, chooses an additional pair of wires from each cable, and inserts them into the notch 38 to repeat the process.

it will be apparent that the embodiment shown is only exemplary and that various modifications can be made in operation, construction, materials, and arrangement within the scope of this invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim: 1. The method of splicing two communication cables comprising the steps of:

a. selecting four wires which are a matched pair from each cable; then b. holding the four wires parallel with their ends together;

c. holding a pair of connectors parallel and evenly; then d. inserting two wire which are a matched wire from each air into each connector;

e. inserting the four wires into the two connectors simultaneously; thereafter f. crimping the two connectors simultaneously.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 with the addition of:

g. shearing the ends of the four wires evenly with one another before they are inserted into the connectors.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein:

g. the connectors are held together upon an anvil before the wires are inserted; and

h. the connectors are crimped by moving a hammer toward the anvil.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3 with the addition of:

j. shearing the ends of the four wires evenly with one another before they are inserted into the connectors.

5. The invention as defined in claim 1 with the addition of:

g. first attaching the connectors together in pairs.

6. The invention as defined in'claim 5 with the addition of:

h. shearing the ends of the four wires evenly with one another before they are inserted into the connectors.

7. The invention as defined in claim 1 with the addition of:

g. attaching the pairs of connectors upon a web.

8. The invention as defined in claim 7 with the addition of:

h. shearing the ends of the four wires evenly with one another before they are inserted into the connectors. 

1. The method of splicing two communication cables comprising the steps of: a. selecting four wires which are a matched pair from each cable; then b. holding the four wires parallel with their ends together; c. holding a pair of connectors parallel and evenly; then d. inserting two wire which are a matched wire from each pair into each connector; e. inserting the four wires into the two connectors simultaneously; thereafter f. crimping the two connectors simultaneously.
 2. The invention as defined in claim 1 with the addition of: g. shearing the ends of the four wires evenly with one another before they are inserted into the connectors.
 3. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein: g. the connectors are held together upon an anvil before the wires are inserted; and h. the connectors are crimped by moving a hammer toward the anvil.
 4. The invention as defined in claim 3 with the addition of: j. shearing the ends of the four wires evenly with one another before they are inserted into the connectors.
 5. The invention as defined in claim 1 with the addition of: g. first attaching the connectors together in pairs.
 6. The invention as defined in claim 5 with the addition of: h. shearing the ends of the four wires evenly with one another before they are inserted into the connectors.
 7. The invention as defined in claim 1 with the addition of: g. attaching the pairs of connectors upon a web.
 8. The invention as defined in claim 7 with the addition of: h. shearing the ends of the four wires evenly with one another before they are inserted into the connectors. 